Region
East Asia
Japan’s Crisis of Confidence
By Yann Messager
Scandal after scandal has plagued the country since the late Abe era, each one further eroding public trust (and even interest) in government.
China’s Response to the Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea
By Mordechai Chaziza
A complex interplay of economic factors, limited military capabilities, and geopolitical dynamics shape China’s cautious response to the Red Sea crisis.
Taiwan’s DPP Wins Presidency, Falls Short in Legislature
By Brian Hioe
Lai Ching-te won with a plurality, largely due to a divided opposition. But the loss of the DPP's legislative majority is a warning sign for the party moving forward.
Montenegro’s Scandal-ridden Chinese Road
By Nicholas Muller
A decade on, the country faces crippling economic challenges and environmental degradation from the ambitious (and still incomplete) highway project.
Previewing the Chinese Foreign Minister’s Visit to Africa
By Yixin Yu and Ovigwe Eguegu
Wang Yi’s inaugural trip of 2024 will touch on diplomacy, economics, and security issues on the African continent.
Hedging ‘Light’: Italy’s Intermezzo With China’s Belt and Road Initiative
By Elisabetta Nadalutti and Jürgen Rüland
What explains Rome’s brief engagement with the BRI?
Tae Yong-ho on North Korea’s Purposeful Aggression
By Kenji Yoshida
The North Korean diplomat-turned-South Korean lawmaker discusses Pyongyang’s stepped-up artillery shelling and its foreign policy strategy.
Japan Offers Ukraine Condolences and Cooperation for Reconstruction
By Thisanka Siripala
Japan pledges “unwavering” support to Ukraine amid aid fatigue in the West.
Why Japan Needs Its Own Version of FEMA
By Takahashi Kosuke
A series of tragedies thus far in 2024 shows why it’s high time to establish a specialized agency for disaster management.
Expect North Korean Provocations in Low Earth Orbit
By John Hickman
Space is a new realm for Pyongyang to engage in its strategy of extracting diplomatic or economic concessions from the United States and South Korea.
Taiwan’s January 2024 Elections: What You Need to Know
By Phillip C. Saunders
Introducing the three presidential candidates and reviewing four factors likely to shape the outcome.
The Strategic Implications of China’s ‘Divine Dragon’ Spaceplane
By Namrata Goswami and Peter Garretson
Having inexpensive and reusable space access – China’s goal in developing the Shenlong spaceplane – carries major national security implications.